Page 16 of Unguarded
Frost smiled so hard, his face hurt. Their fingers linked. When they did, Frost’s hand glowed. “Yeah. I’m just going to pretend I didn’t even see that.”
Gemini brought Frost’s hand to his mouth and kissed it. “You’re special. It’s okay to embrace it. I’m proud as hell of you.”
Frost appreciated the sentiment, but he was terrified of what he might become if he fully embraced whatever was happening to him. He knew he should ask questions. Frost should want to know more about this gift that supposedly lived in his blood, but he didn’t. All he wanted was this: a perfect night beneath the stars with his mate. Everything else could wait. He kind ofwished it would wait forever. Frost wasn’t so sure he wanted this curse.
Yuri snuggled deeper into Brownie’s hold. The moonlight washed over his skin, making him feel alive. Every night with his mate was like living in a dream. Still, Yuri hated to keep Brownie somewhere where he obviously felt the need to be on guard the entire time. Guilt already ate at him.
“I guess we should get home before everyone comes stumbling from the woods, nude and holding their shoes like sneaking home after a drunken night out.”
He felt more than heard Brownie laugh. His tongue swiped the shell of Yuri’s ear. “We can wait a little longer. I feel your happiness. You shouldn’t always be cooped up in Hell. I’m cool.”
Yuri shrugged. “It’s okay if we go home. I could put on that leather outfit you just bought me, and you can take me for a spin on your Harley. You could try to concentrate while I risk death, trying to seduce you.”
“That is a nice picture you’re painting, but your suggestion has you putting on clothes.” His hand smoothed over Yuri’s bare stomach. “I much prefer you nude. You can seduce me here.”
“You could always take me for a ride nude. That would turn some heads.”
Brownie’s laughter deepened, making Yuri’s face hurt from smiling. He had never been more in love with life. Every day, he understood more about how blessed he truly was. This was literally a match made in heaven.
The brush shook. Yuri sniffed the air. He didn’t bother moving. It was only Waylon. He imagined the guy intentionally made noise to keep from startling them. A surprised hellhound wasn’t a good thing. Finally, Waylon stepped from the trees in wolf form. He had his vampire mate with him. Waylon turned human. “Hey, guys. I’m glad to see you out with us tonight.”
Iridescent blue vampire eyes caught the moonlight and reflected it as he stared at Yuri. He had every right to hate Yuri for attacking his mate, but there was no animosity in his eyes.
“Yuri twisted my fingers until I agreed.”
Yuri playfully smacked Brownie’s stomach at the claim. “I’ll twist something for sure if you keep talking shit.”
Audor chuckled at the threat.
Waylon stayed professional, as always. “When do you plan to join the pack, Brownie?”
Brownie snorted.
Waylon smiled. “Yeah, I know. But I also want you to know you’re welcome anytime. Everyone enjoys having you around.”
Yuri felt the way Waylon’s claim moved Brownie. His respect for Waylon doubled. The guy was definitely alpha material. Not like his dad, but a genuine leader. This town was lucky to have him.
Howls cut through the darkness.
Waylon’s chin lifted as he sniffed the air. He flashed them a smile. “We had best get back to it while there’s still time.” He was a wolf again in an instant.
“See you.”
Audor winked as he passed, following in his mate’s wake.
Brownie waited to speak until they were alone again. “This is such a hodgepodge group. I’ve lived a long time, and only recently have I seen different species set up communities together. It’s happening more and more often. Power in numbers, I suppose.”
Brownie’s claim of living for a long time gave him pause. Since they basically lived forever, most creatures never thought much about age. It occurred to him he hadn’t asked about Brownie’s. “How old are you, anyhow?”
He felt Brownie shrug. “I was spoken into existence too long ago to recall.”
That was fascinating. “Lucifer just speaks his creations into existence?” He knew Brownie had said once that hellhounds were created by Lucifer’s hand. Yuri had just assumed he meant in the same way Odin created wolves. He had never heard of anything being spoken into existence.
“Of course,” Brownie answered, as if that should have been obvious. “He cannot allow reproduction among his creations. There is no such thing as births or procreation in Hell.”
The possibilities his words opened were endless. “So, technically, he could just speak a child into existence for Riku and himself? Damn. That would be a beautiful baby.”
He felt Brownie hesitate. “I never thought about it, but I suppose he could.”
They were both silent, as if neither wanted to be the one to state the obvious. Brownie broke first.
“I suppose he could also do the same for us.”
A smile exploded across Yuri’s face. He didn’t know if he was a good choice to be a parent or if he even wanted that, but he loved the idea of a child half Brownie and half him. “They would be the most gorgeous child ever made.”
Brownie tucked Yuri tighter into his hold and kissed his temple. “They really would be.”
Yuri didn’t know what he would want in the future, but he knew Brownie would be there. That thought alone made him happy enough to light three suns. Maybe they would circle back around to this conversation one day, or maybe this one time was enough. Either way, Yuri had the greatest of mates. He would never take that for granted.